Spool for thread



May 2, 1933. l H, Q S'HNEk 1,906,495

SPOOL FOR THREAD Filed Oct. 4, 1930 INVENTOR HERBERT 6. S TINE Patented May 2, 1933 Y rauen-' rarest orales HERBERT *Gi SEINE, @E SOUTH GEANG, NEW] J ASSIGNOR TO A. H. RICE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SPGSL FOR THREAD Application :filed ctober 4, 1930. Serial No. 486,302.

This invention relates toimprovements in spools of the type upon which silk and cotton threads or the like are Wound, and has particular reference to a means for at- 5 taching the loose end of the thread to the spool.

ln the production of spools of thread it is the customary practice forthe operators in manufacturing establishments to manually l0 cut a notch, by means of a knife or Vsimilar implement, in the periphery of one end of the. spool after the hread has been Wound thereon, and thereafter insert the loose end of the thread into said notch so as to prevent inadvertent unwinding of the thread.

Unless the operator is careful in performing this operation, there is a likelihood that the notch, which is formed at an angle to a radial line extending to the center of the spool, Will be cut too deep with the result that the thread may be .severed or a piece of the edge of the spool split oft'. Furthermore, it is a Well-known fact that considerable difficulty is ofttimes experienced by the user of a spool of thread in finding the end of the thread when it is engaged kin the usual notch and disengaging it therefrom and also in replacing said end after using the thread.

llhe present invention is designed to overcome the above-mentioned dilliculties and, to this end, it is proposed to provide the spool with a thr acl-receiving channel or groove extending across one end thereof in intersecting relation to the axial openino' of the spool so that when the thread is engaged in said groove it Will be countersunk beneath the surface of the end of the spool and a portion of said thread will ex- 40 tend across said opening Where it can be easily grasped in order to Withdraw the end for use.

rllhe inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for purposes ofy illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of a spool of thread constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the spool.

The spool body e may be of usual construction for spools commonly employed to carry silk and cotton threads 5, or theV like, and has the customary axial opening 6 for mounting the spool upon the spindle of a sewing machine. The spool is also pro- '60k vided With the enlarged endv members 7 between which the thread is Wound upon the body of said spool.

ln carrying out the present invention, the face of one end 7 of the spool has formed therein a groove or channel 8, which preferably ext-ends diametrically across said. face in intersecting relation to the axial opening 6 and to the periphery of said end at oppositely disposed points, so that the por- 710-` tions of the groove will extend radially relative to said opening. At the points Where the outer ends of the groove intersect the periphery of the end 7 the latter is pro` Y vided yWith notches 9 Which are in communi- 75 cation With said groove. These notches are merely cuts in thespool of sufficient Width to receive the free end portion l0 of the thread 5 and frictionally retain the same in position. i 80 The notches 9 are preferably ofv greater depth than'the groove 8 which need only be made of sufficient size to receive the portion l0 of the thread and recess or countersink the same below the face of the end 7. 8

lThe groove 8 and notches 9 may be formed in the end of the spool in any suitable manner and can be accomplished in a single operation ivhen the spool is being made and prior to Winding the thread thereon. In so 99 doing, the usual practice now employed, wherein operators are required to manually cut notches in the ends `of spools after the thread has been Wound thereon, is avoided. With the present invention it is only necessary for the operator to receive a spool from the winding machine, engage the free end portion of the thread on the spool in one of the notches 9, then lay thesame in the groove 8, and finally insert the thread 100 periphery into the other notch 9, after which any excess of thread extending beyond the latter notch may be cut off. lWith the end of the thread thus engaged and retained in the end of the spool the latter is ready for packing and shipment and, by having the thread recessed Within the groove 8, it will be apparent that accidental detachment of the thread from the notches 9 which might occur when the end of the spoolris rubbed against any surface, such as the ivall of a packing box, or the end of another spool in said box, will be avoided. When the spool .is sold to the ultimate consumer the detachment of the free end of the thread from the notches is facilitated by reason of having a part of the end of said thread extending across the opening 6, whereby said part may be easily grasped and the thread Withdrawn for use. Further, the free end portion of the thread', after use, may be easily engaged with the notches and groove, the latter, in this instance, forming a. clear indicating mark which will enable the person handling the spool to readily find either of the notches 9 which, as is Well known, is sometimes quite difficult with the ordinary spool.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. A spool for thread having the face of one end thereof provided with a groove, portions of Which extend radially from opposite points of the axial opening in said spool to the periphery of said end, and said being formed With, notches in communication with the outer ends of the portions of said groove, said notches and groove receiving the free end portion of the thread on said spool.

2. A spool for thread, comprising end members, one of which has a fiat surface provided with a groove extending complete# ly across the same for receiving the free end portion of the thread on said spool, said end member also having means to retain said portion in said groove.

3. `A spool for thread having the face of one end thereof provided With a groove intersecting the axial opening of the spool, with the portions of said groove, on opposite sides of said opening aligned relative to each other and capable of receiving the free end portion of the thread on said spool With a part of said thread extending across said opening, said end of the spool further having means to retain said portion in said groove.

4. A spool for thread having one end thereof provided with a groove for receiving the free end portion of the thread on said spool, and also having notches in its periphery communicating with and form'- ing continuations of the outer ends of said groove, said thread being insertable into said notches to retain it in said groove.

5. A spool for thread having the face of one end thereof provided with a groove extending entirely across said face and inter secting the axial opening of the spool and capable of receiving the free end portion of the thread on said spool with a part of said thread extending across said opening, said end of the spool also having notches in its periphery communicating with said groove and into Which said thread is insertabio to retain the same in said groove.

6. A spool for thread, comprising end members having flat surfaces one of which is provided with a groove extending completelyY across said surface and intersecting the axial opening of the spool with the portions of said groove on opposite sides of said opening aligned relative to each other, and the outer ends of said groove portions terminating in notches formed by radially ex tending cuts made in the periphery of the end membery in direct alignment with said groove so that the free end portion of a thread may be recessed in said notches and groove by a. single movement of the thread" in one direction across the face of said end member. V

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

HERBERT G. STINE. 

